Bulk-loading coin hopper having endless pin chain pickup

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for delivering coins one at a time from a supply of coins in bulk in which an agitator mounted in an elongated bin adapted to hold a supply of coins in bulk feeds coins from the supply to a pick-up area adjacent to the lower end of an inclined ramp extending along the length of the bin to permit an endless pin chain to pick up the coins and carry them one by one upwardly toward a delivery opening adjacent to the other end of the bin at which the coins leave the chain and pass one at a time outwardly through the discharge opening.

United States Patent Fletcher Oct. 7, 1975 [5 BULK-LOADING COIN HOPPER HAVING 3,351,075 11/1967 Weisskopf 133/3 R ENDLESS PIN CHAIN PICKUP 3,361,141 l/l968 Weisskopf 3,680,566 8/1972 Tanaka et al. 194/10 X Patrick A. Fletcher, Comstock Park, Mich.

Assignee: Rowe International Inc., Whippany,

Filed: Jan. 7, 1974 Appl. No.: 431,207

Inventor:

U.S. Cl. 133/8 R; 133/8 E; 198/168; 221/253; 221/254 Int. Cl. G07D 9/04 Field of Search 133/3 R, 3 F, 8 R, 8 E; 221/253, 254; 198/48, 168, 171; 194/10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1912 Larsen 133/8 F 9/1952 Engel 198/48 X 3/1965 Chichester et a1. 133/3 R QIMIQEIGEINIEQIM; l

EIGQIMIEID Primary Examiner Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or FirmShenler & OConnor [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for delivering coins one at a time from a supply of coins in bulk in which an agitator mounted in an elongated bin adapted 'to hold a supply of coins in bulk feeds coins from the supply to a pick-up area adjacent to the lower end of an inclined ramp extending along the length of the bin to permit an endless pin chain to pick up the coins and carry them one by one upwardly toward a delivery opening adjacent to the other end of the bin at which the coins leave the chain and pass one at a time outwardly through the discharge opening.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures E 2 Q was 9 8,?46

US. Patent 0a. 7,1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,910,295

US. Patent 0a. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,910,295

HP PHH HHE US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet4 of4 3,910,295

BULK-LOADING COIN HOPPER HAVING ENDLESS PIN CHAIN PICKUP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior coin loading machines utilized either a circular disc or a belt conveyor to transport coins. Both occupied a relatively large volume for a given handling capacity. The disc machines, in particular, required that their width exceed that of the circular disc. Prior machines were also subject to jamming when handling bent coins. My invention overcomes these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of my invention is to provide a bulkloading coin hopper which is compact.

, Another object of my invention isto provide a bulkloading coin hopper which handles bent coins without difficulty.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bulkloading coin hopper having a high capacity relative to its size.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a bulk-loading coin hopper which is capable of handling coins of different denominations.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is aside elevation of one form of my bulkloading coin hopper with parts broken away and with other parts shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view. of the 'form of my bulkloading coin hopper shown in FIG. 1 and taken along the line 22 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the form of my bulkloading coin hopper shown in FIG. 1, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a preferred form of my bulk-loading coin hopper with parts broken away and with other parts shown in section.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred form of my bulk loading coin hopper taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4. v

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the preferred form of my bulk loading coin hopper taken along the'line 66 of FIG. 5 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, my bulk-loading coin hopper, identified generally by reference character 10, includes a housing formed by side walls 14 and 18, front wall 12, a backwall 16, a bottom 20 and top plate 34, which, in conjunction with front wall 12, formsthe mouth 24 of the hopper 10. The mouth 24 provides an entranceway to the bulk storage area 26 which is separated from the coin transport area 88 by interior parti-. tion 32.

Coins of a single denomination are fed into the hopper through the coin hopper mouth 24 and are stored in the bulk storage area 26 to await processing.

A guide 30 positioned above and parallel to the bottom 20 of the housing forms the floor of the bulk storage area. The inclination of the guide 30 causes coins stored in the bulk storage area 26 to move toward the coin pickup region 56 formed by the intersection of the lower end of the guide 30 which slopes sharply downward and by a coin ramp 52 which is mounted in spaced parallel relation to plate 16. A motor 44 mounted on a bracket carried by plate 16 has a shaft 42 which extends through the plate and which carries for movement therewith an agitator 40 to expedite the downward travel of bulk coins through the bulk storage area 26 to the coin pickup region 56 and a chain drive sprocket wheel 46 which powers the coin transport mechanism identified generally by reference symbol 72. The agitator 40 includes fins arranged in a tapered conical configuration and protrudes into the lower region of the bulk storage area 26, with its axis generally parallel to the guide 30. Constant rotation of the agitator 40 maintains the stored coins in a kinetic state to prevent jamming and a consequential interruption of their travel to the pickup area 56.

The coin transport mechanism 72 includes a continuous standard pitch chain 48 tautly circumscribing drive sprocket wheel 46 and an idler sproket 50 carried by a shaft 58 respectively spaced one above the other in a common inclined plane. The chain 48 is positioned between the housing wall 16 and the coin ramp 52. Each third pin of the chain 48, one of which is indicated by reference symbol 51, extends through a slot 54 in the coin ramp 52 a distance less than the thickness of coins of the denomination to be processed. An elongated plate 57 secured over the central part of ramp 54 confines coins being carried by pins 51 to the space between the right edge of the plate as viewed in FIG. 2 and the wall 14, thus to prevent coins from falling off the pins. A second circular plate 59 over sprocket wheel 50 insures that coins are carried upwardly over the top of shaft 58 to a discharge chute 62. It will be appreciated that the end of guide 30 which is bent toward bottom 20 adjacent to the pickup region 56 tends to cause coins in the pickup area to lie flat so as readily to be picked up by pins 51.

As the motor 44 causes the chain drive sprocket wheel 46 and the agitator 40 to rotate, the chain 48 revolves about the chain drive sprocket wheel 46 and the chain idler 50. The protruding pins 51 travel up one side of the coin ramp 52 and return down the other side. This cycle is maintained continuously while the hopper is active.

Coins deposited through the hopper mouth 24 and stored in the bulk storage area 26 are gravity fed, assisted by the agitator 40 and guide 30, to the coin pickup region 56 where they are picked up one at a time by the extended pins 51 of the chain 48. The limited extension of these pins 51, beyond the coin ramp, of less than the thickness of the coins processed, precludes the possibility of more than one coin being picked up by a single pin. Each coin engaged by a pin 51 is propelled upwards and about the chain idler sprocket wheel 50. A deflector 64 on plate 57 in the path of a coin moving around wheel 50 diverts the coin to the coin exit passage 62.

Coins which fall from the holding pins 51 prior to reaching the coin exit 62 are returned to the bulk storage area 26 via the coin ramp 52. The partition 32 isolates the transport mechanism 72 and transport area 88 from the coins housed in the bulk storage area 26. Any suitable means may be employed for mounting the hopper so that ramp 52 has generally the inclination shown in FIG. 1.

A photocell 66 senses the constant light transmitted by the lamp 68 through the apertures 70 in the coin chute 62. The interruption of the light beam as each coin is expelled through the coin exit 62 activates a counter indicated by reference character 90.

It is to be noted that by varying the dimensions of the spacings between the pins, the coin path and various other components of the hopper, coins of different denominations may be accommodated. More than one denomination of coin may be handled by a single hopper.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, I have shown what is the preferred embodiment of my bulk loading coin hopper. The apparatus, indicated generally by the reference character 90, includes a back plate 92, side plates 94 and 96, secured to the back plate by any suitable means such by screws 98. A front plate is secured to the side plates 94 and 96 by means of screws 102. The assembly includes a bottom assembly, indi cated generally by the reference character 104 and a cover 106 so shaped as to provide a loading opening 108. It will readily be appreciated that this form of my invention, as well as the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, provides a bulk coin storage bin which is elongated in the direction of the length of the back plate 92.

I mount a pin track forming plate 110 above and in spaced relationship to the back plate 92 by means of spacers I12 and screws 114. The plate 110 forms a pin track 116 which, as will be apparent from the showing of FIG. 5, extends generally straight from adjacent to the lower end of the bin for a distance and then curves inwardly and again outwardly as it approaches the top of the bin. I also provide the assembly with a partition 118 held in placed by means of screws 120 or the like and positioned to separate the coin conducting area from the principal bulk storage space above the partition.

A shaft 122 supported for rotary movement in the back plate 92, in the track forming plate 110, and in the end of partition 118, carries a sprocket wheel 124 adapted to drive a chain 126. I provide the chain 126 with pins 128 upstanding from the chain at spaced locations therealong. In this embodiment of my invention, the pins 128 extend upwardly above the track-forming plate 110 for a distance which is greater than the thickness of the thickest coin being handled. As the chain 126 travels upwardly from adjacent to the bottom at the right hand side thereof as viewed in FIG. 5, it extends around a first curved guide 130 and then around a second curved guide 132, which guides are sandwiched between plates 92 and 110. After leaving the curved guide 132 the chain extends around a stationary guide 134 and then back to the sprocket wheel 124.

Further, in this embodiment of my invention, the coin track is defined by a pair of coin track forming plates 136 and 138. I form the plates 136 and 138 from a material which is thinner than the thinnest coin being handled. Thus, ifa pin on the chain picks up more than one coin and attempts to carry the two coins upwardly, the upper coin will slide off and back downwardly to the pickup area at least when the two coins reach the curved track portion. It is to be noted further that the plate 136 is inclined slightly upwardly from right to left as viewed in FIG. 5 to permit the pins 128 to pass under the plate in the return stand of the chain. It is to be noted that one reason why the form of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 is the preferred form is the fact that it is a simpler matter to control the thickness of the coin track-forming plate than it is to control the height of the pins 128 above the chain.

Shaft 132 carries for rotation therewith a lower agitator 140 provided with a plurality of vanes 142 which direct coins into the space between adjacent pins 128 on the chain 126.

l mount a second agitator 144 on the end of shaft 122 extending above partition 118. This agitator which is generally cylindrical in shape is mounted in a slightly eccentric position on the shaft. In addition, it will be seen that the lower end of the agitator 144 is tapered inwardly toward the bearing in partition 118 further to reduce the possibility of jamming of coins.

The bottom assembly 104 includes an upper block molded from any suitable synthetic resin to provide an inner surface 147 which is curved across the width of the hopper and which is inclined downwardly to the right as viewed in FIG. 4. A lower molded synthetic resin block 148 is formed with an inner surface the upper portion 150 of which is generally cylindrical and which provides a smooth transition from surface 146. The lower portion 151 of the surface curves outwardly toward the bottom with this curved portion extending progressively further upward into the cylindrical portion 150 of the surface from the point at which chain 126 emerges from beneath plate 136 to the point at which the chain begins its upward movement. Block 148 rests on a plate 153 having an inner outline configuration conforming to the shape of the lower edge of surface portion 151. I provide block 148 with bosses 154 extending laterally outwardly therefrom through guide slots 155 in the sides 94 and 96 to mount the guide block 148 for limited sliding movement on the assembly. Springs 152 urge the block 148 generally upwardly as viewed in FIG. 4 to bring bosses 154 into engagement with the upper edges of the slots 155. I have found that the arrangement of the curved portion 151 of the inner surface of block 148 together with the permitted motion of the block inhibit jamming of coins at the bottom of the hopper.

As coins are carried one by one upwardly along the coin track toward the top of the bin, ultimately they arrive at a top dead center" position with respect to the stationary guide 134. From this position they tend to fall downwardly under the influence of gravity toward a discharge opening 156 formed in the guide 134 and extending entirely through the bin so that coins fall outwardly in the manner indicated in FIG. 4. Preferably I form plate 138 adjacent to the top of the bin with a projection 158 which extends slightly inwardly of the coin path so as to ensure that coins fall off the pins and downwardly into the opening 156. Further to obviate any possibility of jams, I provide the guide 134 with a wing 160 which positively knocks any stuck coin off the chain.

The operation of the form of my bulk loading coin hopper illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be apparent from the description hereinabove. Coins in bulk to be counted, to be fed to a coin tube or to be dispensed in predetermined quantities, as in a changemaker, are poured into the storage space 26 and fall to the pickup area 56. Agitator 4O maintains the coins in the pickup area in an agitated state to permit them to be picked up one by one by pins 51. Coins picked up are carried upwardly along ramp 52 and over the top of sprocket wheel 50 to the diverter 64 which directs the coins out wardly to chute 62. Counter 90 counts the number of coins moving out of the hopper. It will readily be appreciated that not all pins 51 need pick up coins. That is, in an installation in which motor 44 is energized for a period of time sufficient to dispense a certain number of coins, the motor will remain energized until counter 90 counts that number of coins even though not all pins 51 pick up coins.

The operation of the form of my invention shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is similar to that of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As the pin chain 126 is driven agitators 140 and 144 feed coins to the chain pins 128. Coins picked up by the pins 128 are carried upwardly along the track formed by plates 136 and 138. If more than a single coin is picked up by a pin ultimately it drops off the pin owing to the fact that plates 136 and 138 are thinner than the thinnest coin being handled and owing to the curvature of the path.

When a coin being carried upwardly arrives at a location adjacent to top dead center it tends to move under the influence of gravity downwardly to window 156 through which it falls to a suitable receptacle or the like. It will readily be appreciated that, as in the form of my invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, coins being discharged through window 156 may actuate a counter. Projection 158 on plate 138 assists in dislodging coins from the pins 128. Arm 160 positively knocks off the chain any coin which failed to move off the chain to window 156. In this way jamming is inhibited.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a bulk-loading coin hopper which is compact. My coin hopper handles bent coins without difficulty. It has a high capacity relative to its size. It is readily adapted to handle coins of different denominations.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcornbinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A bulk-loading coin hopper for delivering coins one by one from a supply of coins in bulk including in combination, a container for holding a supply of coins in bulk, said container comprising a wall elongated in a direction from the bottom of said container to the top thereof, said wall being inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal in the normal position of the container, means forming a coin discharge opening in said container adjacent to the upper end of said wall, means forming an elongated coin guide channel on the upper surface of said wall, said channel extending in the direction of the length of said wall from a coin pick-up region adjacent to the bottom of said container to said coin delivery opening, said channel adapted to receive coins lying flat, said channel including a linear portion, and means extending upwardly from the base of said channel for receiving coins at said pick-up location and for conveying said coins in spaced relationship upwardly along said channel to said delivery location.

2. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 1 in which said coin path forming means comprises a plate form ing an edge of said channel, said plate being thinner than the thinnest coin being handled.

3. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 2 in which said conveying means is a pin chain.

4. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 in which said channel has a slot formed therein and in which said conveying means comprises spaced pins extending through said slot and means for moving said pins along said slot from said pick-up region to said discharge opening.

5. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including means for counting coins discharged from said hopper.

6. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including means for agitating coins in said supply means.

7. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including means in said pick-up region for delivering coins to said receiving and conveying means.

8. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 7 in which said delivery means comprises an agitator and means for causing coins to assume a position generally parallel to the base of said channel at said first point.

9. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including a partition in said container extending from the top thereof over said channel to a location adjacent to said pick-up region.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said conveying means comprises a pin which extends above the base of said channel for a distance slightly less than the thickness of a coin being handled.

11. A bulk-loading coin hopper for delivering coins one by one from a supply of coins in bulk including in combination, an elongated container for holding a sup ply of coins in bulk, said container having a back wall normally inclined to the horizontal, means forming a coin discharge opening adjacent to one end of said container, means forming a coin guide channel on said back wall extending from a coin pick-up region adjacent to the other end of the container to said coin discharge opening, means locating in said channel for conducting coins one at a time from said pick-up region to said delivery opening, a partition in said container extending from said one end of said container and over said discharge opening to a location adjacent to and spaced from the other end of the container to divide said container into a bulk supply space above the partition and a coin conveying space below said partition, and means at said location for delivering coins from said bulk supply space to said pick-up region.

12. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said delivering means comprises a first agitator in said pick-up region and a second agitator at said location.

13. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said coin guide channel forming means comprises a plate forming an edge of said channel, said plate being thinner than the thickest coin being handled.

14. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said container in elongated from top to bottom, in which said channel forming means comprises a plate forming an edge of said channel, said plate being thinner than the thinnest coin being handled, and in which said channel has a curved portion.

15. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said coin conducting means comprises pins extending into said channel. 

1. A bulk-loading coin hopper for delivering coins one by one from a supply of coins in bulk including in combination, a container for holding a supply of coins in bulk, said container comprising a wall elongated in a direction from the bottom of said container to the top thereof, said wall being inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal in the normal position of the container, means forming a coin discharge opening in said container adjacent to the upper end of said wall, means forming an elongated coin guide channel on the upper surface of said wall, said channel extending in the direction of the length of said wall from a coin pick-up region adjacent to the bottom of said container to said coin delivery opening, said channel adapted to receive coins lying flat, said channel including a linear portion, and means extending upwardly from the base of said channel for receiving coins at said pick-up location and for conveying said coins in spaced relationship upwardly along said channel to said delivery location.
 2. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 1 in which said coin path forming means comprises a plate forming an edge of said channel, said plate being thinner than the thinnest coin being handled.
 3. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 2 in which said conveying means is a pin chain.
 4. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 in which said channel has a slot formed therein and in which said conveying means comprises spaced pins extending through said slot and means for moving said pins along said slot from said pick-up region to said discharge opening.
 5. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including means for counting coins discharged from said hopper.
 6. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including means for agitating coins in said supply means.
 7. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including means in said pick-up region for delivering coins to said receiving and conveying means.
 8. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 7 in which said delivery means comprises an agitator and means for causing coins to assume a position generally parallel to the base of said channel at said first point.
 9. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 1 including a partition in said container extending from the top thereof over said channel to a location adjacent to said pick-up region.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said conveying means comprises a pin which extends above the base of said channel for a distance slightly less than the thickness of a coin being handled.
 11. A bulk-loading coin hopper for delivering coins one by one from a supply of coins in bulk including in combination, an elongated container for holding a supply of coins in bulk, said container having a back wall normally inclined to the horizontal, means forming a coin discharge opening adjacent to one end of said container, means forming a Coin guide channel on said back wall extending from a coin pick-up region adjacent to the other end of the container to said coin discharge opening, means locating in said channel for conducting coins one at a time from said pick-up region to said delivery opening, a partition in said container extending from said one end of said container and over said discharge opening to a location adjacent to and spaced from the other end of the container to divide said container into a bulk supply space above the partition and a coin conveying space below said partition, and means at said location for delivering coins from said bulk supply space to said pick-up region.
 12. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said delivering means comprises a first agitator in said pick-up region and a second agitator at said location.
 13. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said coin guide channel forming means comprises a plate forming an edge of said channel, said plate being thinner than the thickest coin being handled.
 14. A bulk loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said container in elongated from top to bottom, in which said channel forming means comprises a plate forming an edge of said channel, said plate being thinner than the thinnest coin being handled, and in which said channel has a curved portion.
 15. A bulk-loading coin hopper as in claim 11 in which said coin conducting means comprises pins extending into said channel. 